Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Piedmont False Pimpernel (Lindernia monticola)

Lindernia monticola is known by several common names: Piedmont False Pimpernel, Flatrock Pimpernel, Riverbank Pimpernel, False Pimpernel. We found this plant growing on the stone outcrop at Rock and Shoals Outcrop Natural Area in Athens-Clarke County in late April.

At a distance, these flowers tend to blend into the background.

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Up close, the flowers are delicate; white with distinctive purple markings. The Piedmont False Pimpernel is very similar in appearance and size to the…

Mazus pumilus (Japanese Mazus) flowers. Japanese Mazus has distinctive gold spots that make it easy to recognize. Although Japanese Mazus usually grows as a ground cover barely 2 inches tall – and I’ve seen it grow as a ground cover at Fort Yargo State Park - I saw it blooming on taller stalks along the Frog Pond Trail at the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Natural Preserve.

Leaves of the Piedmont False Pimpernel.

Lindernia monticola is native to the United States and grows only in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Mazus pumilis (Japanese Mazus) grows in the eastern United States as well as in the Pacific Coast states.Click on an image to view a larger image